The media played a huge role during the Civil Rights Movement, helping people understand what was happening and encouraging support for change. With the rise of television and newspapers in the mid-1900s, more Americans became aware of the unfair treatment African Americans faced.

Television's Impact:

• By the late 1950s and into the 1960s, TV was everywhere. About 90% of homes had a television by 1965. This meant a lot of people could see what was happening in the civil rights struggles.
• Events like the Birmingham protests in 1963 were shown on TV. Viewers saw police using fire hoses and attack dogs against peaceful protesters. These shocking images touched people's hearts and made them care more about the movement.
• After these broadcasts, surveys showed a big rise in support for civil rights laws. For example, in 1963, a Gallup poll found that 60% of Americans felt racial discrimination was a serious issue, and 70% supported ending segregation.

Print Media's Influence:

• Newspapers and magazines also played a key role in spreading the message. Major publications like The New York Times and Life wrote a lot about important events, including the March on Washington in 1963.
• This march had over 250,000 people attending, and more than 300 newspapers reported on it. This level of exposure made civil rights feel urgent and important.
• A study showed that after the media covered the march, support for civil rights laws grew a lot. The number of Americans who thought the government should help with civil rights jumped from 50% in 1963 to 72% by August 1964.

Framing and Narrative Construction:

• How the media presented these events changed how people thought. News organizations often showed civil rights activists as morally right while presenting segregationists as violent, creating a clear contrast.
• Powerful images and stories influenced how people felt. For example, after the Selma to Montgomery marches in 1965, known as “Bloody Sunday,” the media helped rally support for the Voting Rights Act. The number of Americans who supported voting rights for African Americans grew from 54% before the event to 78% just weeks after it was covered by the media.

Statistical Evidence of Influence:

• Research from the Pew Research Center showed that by 1964, around two-thirds of Americans believed the Civil Rights Movement was a moral cause. Media exposure was a key reason for this change.
• Surveys showed that as civil rights issues were featured more in the media, more people got involved. Participation in civil rights groups increased by 300% between 1960 and 1964.

In summary, television and print media not only gave legitimacy to the Civil Rights Movement but also helped gather support, change public opinion, and led to important laws being passed. The statistics clearly show that when people saw more coverage of civil rights, they were more likely to support those efforts, proving how crucial media was for social change.